Filling-machine.



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Patented may 9, 1911.

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` nocnor l '/ii/ Ma F.. GA. H. STRASBURGBB. FILLING MACHINE.

PPLITION FILED HAB. 9,1908. 991 654 Patented May 9,` 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

if'. C. H. STRASBURGBR.

. FILLING MAOHINE. APPLIqA'non FILED MBA. lens.

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`Q x n lll'lllll w www@ P. C. H. STRASBURGER.

FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED HAB. e. 190e.

Patented May 9, 1911.

5 y SHEETS-SHEET 4.

F. C. H. STRASBURGER. FILLING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED 11,112.9,19os- 991,664.. Patented May 9, 1911*.

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narran sirenas retratar ernten.

FRANK C. I-I. STRASBURGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 BOTTLERSMACHINERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION0F ILLINOIS.

FILLING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Application filed March 9, 1908. Serial No. 419,876.

l its object is to provide a machine of siinple construction adapted tobe operated rapldly and to lill the bottles without the loss of gas andwithout producing foam.

A further object of the invention is to provide a siphon filling machinein which the filling operation is conducted under a pressure on theliquid to prevent the escape of gas. And further objects of theinvention are to automatically seal the bottle as it is moved to fillingposition; to automatically establish communication between the bottleland the liquid tank to enable an equalization of pressure in the bottleand tank; and to automatically open the liquid valve as the bottle iscarried to its filling position,

rl`he invention has other objects in View which will appear fullyhereafter in the detail description of the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is asectional elevation of a Inachine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is anenlarged sectional elevation of the liquid inlet pipe. Fig. 3 is adetail enlarged sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. (3 showing abottle in broken lines. Figs. at, 5 and 6 are sectional views on thelines 3L-, 5 5 and (3 6, respectively, of Fig. 3. Fig. T is a top planview of one of the filling mechanisms, a portion of the tank appearingin section. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 10, theposition of the head being indicated in broken lines. Fig. 9 is a planview of the bottle clamp, av portion of the tank appearing in section.Fig. 10 is a front view of the bottle clamp, shown partly in section onthe line 10-10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a view like Fig. 3 but showing amodified construction. Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line 12-12 ofFig. 1l. Fig. 12% is a top plan View, partly in section, showing amodified form of device for operating the air valve. Fig. 14 is asectional elevation of this modification on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13. i

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a liquid tank which is mountedto revolve on a hollow pedestal or stand Qvof any suitable construction.The pedestal is provided wit-h a ball bearing 3 on whichthe tank restsand the tank has a hollow boss 4 projecting downward from its bottoni tofit in the upper end of the pedestal. The liquid inlet pipe 5 isarranged in the pedestal and is provided Iat, its lower end with one ormore branches 5 to which a hose leading from the liquid 'supply isconnected. This liquid pipe 5 extends up through the boss 4 into thetank 1 and a nut G is screwed on its upper end. A collar 7 ancha washer8 are arranged on the liquid pipe beneath the nut (S and in a recess 9in the bottom of the tank upon an annular shoulder 10 at the top of theboss 4: (Fig. 2). A. spring 11 is arranged on the liquid pipe between afixed part .2 of the pedestal and a shoulder 11 on the pipe, and thisspring by expansion pulls down on the upper end of the liquid pipe andholds the nut 6, collar 7 and washer 8 tightly together with the washerbearing on the shoulder 10 to prevent the escape of liquid from thetank, but at the same time permitting the tank to revolve on th liquidpipe.

The lid 12 of the tank is secured thereon in an air tight manner bysuitable fastening devices. The air tube 13 enters the tank through thelid and is provided with a pressure gage 14, a pressure regulator 15 anda stop cock 1G. f

A fioat valve 17 is arranged in the tank and it has an outlet opening 17in the loottom of the tank to permit the escape of gas from the tankwhen the liquid in the tank falls below a predetermined level. I may useany form of valve suitable for this purpose but l have shown in thedrawings the valve covered by my Patent No. 883,254 dated March 231,1908. As this valve forms no part of the present invention it will notbe necessary to enter into a detail description thereof. The purpose ofthis valve is simply to maintain the liquid at a predetermined level byallowing the escape of gas from the tank, when the liquid in the tankfalls below the predetermined level, to permit the liquid to fiow into`the tank from the supply.

The tank is preferably circular in form and is provided with a pluralityof filling mechanisms supported in its side and spaced vapart inconvenient position. Each filling mechanism comprises a casing 18 whichis arrangedin an opening 19 in the side of the tank and has an annularflange 20 at its inner end to engage the inner face of the side of thetank, there being, preferably, a washer 20 located between said flangeand the tank, as shown in Fig. 3, to form a tight joint.

A clamping ring 21 screw-threaded on a threaded portion`"of the casingsecures the casing to the side of the tank. A rotatably movable plug 22is arranged to rock in the easing 18 and is bored transversely toreceive the tubular plug section 23 of the filling tube which is bent inangular form. (Fig. 3). This plug section of the filling tube carries anozzle section 24 at its outer front end tof/enter the bottle, and avalve section 25 atI its rear end within the tank, and the bores of thethree sections form a continuous and uninterrupted passage for theliquid. I prefer to make the filling tube in sections as described forconvenience in the manufacture and assembling of parts, for strength atthe rock plug, and to facilitate cleansing and repairs. The filling tubeprojects downwardly and outwardly from the tank and is preferably closedat its lower end and provided with a discharge opening 24 on its upperside at or adjacent to its lower outer end. A sealing head 26 is car'ried on the outer end of the plug section -o and is provided with arubber seat 2G to receive the mouth of the bottle. A supporting arm 27is connected to the sealing head and it carries a bottle rest 2Sadjustable longitudinally of the arm and secured in position by a setscrew 23. The plug sec tion 23 of the filling tube has a shoulder 23which abiits against the plug 22 and this section has one or morelongitudinal bores 29 forming an air passage from the sealing head tothe plug and there connecting with grooves 30 cut in the inner face ofthe plug section and forming a continuation of the air passage. Grooves30 are disposed longi tudinally of the plug section 23 so as to registerwith the bores 29. Communicationis established between the various bores29 through an annular groove 30 connecting the ends of the grooves 29.

A tubular aii valve member 31 is secured on the plug section 23 withinthe tank by a nut 32 screw-threaded on the rear end of the plug section.By adjusting nut 32 the shoulder 23 and the front -end 31 of the airvalve member are clamped tightly against the plug to form air tightjoints, and washers may be used in said joints if found desirable.` Theair valve membenhas an upwardly inclined branch 33 provided with a bore34- which communicates. with the groove 30 and forms a continuation ofthe air passage. Communication is established between the liquid tube inthe plug l' section 23 and the air valve through an it otherwise wouldbe if the bores were de-y pended upon solely for the passage of the gas.

All air valve adapted to be automatically operated as the filling tubeis moved to filling position is piovided in the air passage and thisvalve is preferably made as illustrated in Fig. 3. The branch 33, inthis construction, comprises, for convenience, a tube 33 which isscrew-threaded in a tubular boss 33 and is provided with a head 35andone or more lateral ports 34 beneath the head. A sleeve or collar 36is arranged on the tube 33 `and it has a seat 3G at its upper end forthe head 37. Links 3S are pivotally connected to the sleeve 36 and to afixed point, preferably an arm 39, on the casing within the tank. Thenthe nozzle end of the filling tube is swniig downward sleeve and acollar 43 at the inner end of4 the filling tube. The spring normallyyholds the valve seated against thel inner end of the filling tube butwhen the parts are swung at the rock plug the upper end of the sleevel() will engage the bifurcated end 39 of the arm 30 and the valve willbe unseated to permit the liquid in the tank to flow through the fillingtube into the bottle.

The bottle is clamped against the sealing head by engagement with a pairof curved clamping arms 44,45, (Figs. 8-10) which are pivotallysupported on the tank below the easing 18. In the construction shown iiithe drawings one of' the arms 4l s'bored and also provided with alaterally extending sleeve 4-6 to receive a shaft 47 and the other arm.45, is mounted on the sleeve 46. An ear 4S on the tank is bored toreceive the sleeve 4G and the arms are located on opposite sides ofthisl ear and are connected by a spring 49 attached to lugs 49 on thearms (Fig. 10). Thus the arms are capable of a pivotal movement and alsoa movement towardv and from cach othei'. Spring plates 5() (Fig. 8) arefastened to the tank and are engaged by the upper lugs 51 and the lowerlugs 52 on the arms. The lug 51 engages the spring plate adjacentl toits fast end and limits t-he upward movement of the clamping arm. Thelug 52' engages the spring plate nea-r its lower free end and yieldmglyretards vthe tendency ofthe clamping arm to swing downward under thepressure of the bottle, as hereafter described. A stop 53 on one arm, as44, limits the downward or inward swinging movement of the bottle andthe filling tube to filling position.

The construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore described is onewhich I have found well adapted for embodying my invention in` a machinefor filling beer and the operation thereof is as follows: The lid havingbeen secured on the tank and the liquid pipe and the air pipe being.connected to the source of supply the required pressure is firstestablished in the tank and then the beer is forced into the tankagainst the pressure therein. A bottle 54, shown in broken lines in Fig.3, is pushed up on the filling tube -against the sealing head and restedagainst the rest 2S. The outer ends 44', 45', of the clamping arms (Fig.9) are ared or turned outwardly to permitthe bottle to be engaged withthe sealing hea-d as just described. Then downward pressure is appliedon the bottle to swing the filling tube and the parts connectedtherewith at the rock plug. This movement will rock the plug and swingthe bottle downward and toward the pedestal and the shoulder 54 on thebottle will engage the upper faces 44, 45 of the clamping arms which arecurved eccentrically from the rock plug as a center to form cams onwhich the shoulder travels to force the mouth of the bottle tightlyagainst the seat 2G in the sealing head. As the bottle begins itsdownward movement and is fairly seated the air valve is opened to permitan equalization of pressure in the bottle andthe tank before the fillingvalve is opened; and by the time the bottle has reached filling positionagainstthe stop 53 the filling valve. is opened to permit the beer toflow into the bottle. The tank is then swung on the pedestal and abottle applied to the next filling tube'and so on until the first bottlecomes around to the operator. lly this time the first bottle is filledand the operator removes it from the machine and replaces it with anempty bottle in the manner heretofore described. The pressure applied onthe bottle to move it downward is directed against the rest QS and inswinging the bottle upward the operator grasps the bottle and the restor the supporting arm 2T so that there is no liability of breaking thebottle at the neck. The spring 49 permits the clamping arms to yieldlaterally during the swinging movement of the bottle and enables thesearms to automatically adjust themselves to inequalities in the bottles.The spring plate 50, as previously described,

yieldingly limits the downward swinging movement of the clamping armsand also en. ables said arms to automatically adjustthemselves toinequalities in the bottles. When the bottle has been filled and isswung upward to removal position the beer Valve and the air valve areautomatically closed;

In the construction shown in Figs. 1-10 the air passage is formed partlyby bores and grooves in the filling tube and I have found this to be avery satisfactory-method of construction, particularly for the reasonthat it makes the tube stronger just in front of the rock plug where thegreatest strain occurs. This construction also has o ther advantagesfrom a manufacturing standpoint which it is not necessary to refer to inmore detail. In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown another construction inwhich an air tube 55 projects through the rock plug 56 and carries onits outer end a sealing head 57 and onits inner end a valve member 58.The air tube has a collar 59 rigid therewith to engage the front of theplugand the end 58 ofthe member 58 is clamped against the rear of theplug when said member is screwed on to the air tubev55. The filling tube60 is supported in the rear end 61 of the member 58, the latter forminga continuation of the air tube 55. In this construction the air passageis located between the tubes 55 and 60, these tubes being independent ofeach other and bent in a similar manner to fit one within the other withsuflicient space therebetween to permit the passage of air in thedesired manner. In this construction the air passage extends from thesealing head alongside of the liquid passage, lbut separate therefrom,to the air Valve within the tank just the same as shown in theconstruction of Fig. 3 but with the difference, as heretofore mentioned,that it is formed by the space between two tubes one arranged within theother instead of by boring and grooving a single tube, as shown in Fig.`3. These two constructions are, it is believed, the substantialequivalent one for the other but from a practical standpoint theconstruction shown in Fig. 3 is to be preferred. Inother respects thanthose specifically described the construction of Figs. 11 and 1'2 is'substantially the same as that of Fig. 3.

In Figs. 13 and 14 I have shown an air lvalve of a somewhat differentconstruction from that shown in the other figures of the drawings.Referring to these figures, the branch air tube 62 is provided with avalve casing (33 having an enlarged port 63. A valve plug 64. isarranged in the casing ($3 and it has a transverse port. G5 which isenla rged at one end G5. in arm 66 is fastened to the valve plug and isconnected by a link 6T to a fixed part GS on the valve casing 1S. Itwill be readily understood that when the filling tube is swung downward,as heretofore` described,l the link 67, pulling on arm 66, will turn thevalve plug until the port 65 registers with the air passage 62toestablish communication between the link and the 5 bottle, and thatwhen the filling tube is moved upward to normal posit-ion, the valveplug will be turned backward to close the port 65 as shown in Fig.`14.The enlargement 65 of the port 65 is provided so that the air valve willopen communication between the tank and bot-tle before the liquid valveis opened. This valve can be used with the construction shown in Fig. 3or with tha shown in Fig. 11. l

The invention` is simple in construction and rovides a hand machine :forfilling liqui s which can be easily operated and at considerable speed.The machine is particularly adapted for filling liquids charged withgas, such as beer, and it maintains a pressure on the beer in the tankto prevent t-he escape ofv gas from the beer and provides for equalizingthe pressure in the bottle and the tank before the'beer begins to flow.The filling tube and the parts connected therewith are all supported intherock plug in the casing 18 and they can be easily removed forcleansing or repair and replaced.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letl' 30 ters Patent is: l

l. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a closed tank, airand liquid connections to the tank, a casing in the side of the tank, arotatably movable plug arranged to rock in said casing, a filling tubemounted in said plug to swing in' the 4side of the tank, said tube beingprovided with lon itudinally extending'bores for the passage o gastherethrough, said'bores communicating with the interior of the tankabove the level pf the liquid therein, a valve for controlling .thepassage of gas through said bores, and means for operating said valve topermit the equalization of pressure in thetankand in the bottle to befilled before the flow of the liquid Y thereinto commences.

2. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of aclosed tank, air andliquid co'nnections to the tank, a casing in the side of the tank, arotatably movable plug arranged to rock in said casing, a filling tubemounted in said plug,a sealing head on said filling tube, an air passageextending from the sealing head through the plug into the tank, an airvalve member mounted on the filling tube within the tank and having a.passage forming a continuation of said air passage, a rotatable airvalve on said member, and a connection between said air valve and afixed part Within the tank for openingsaid valve when the filling tubeis swung.

3. Ina bottle filling machine, the combination of a .closed tank, airand liquid connections to the tank, a rotatably movable plug mounted torock in the casing, a filling tube mounted in'said plug, a sealing headon said filling tube, an air passage extending from the sealing headthrough the filling tube alongside of the liquid-passage therein intothe tank, an air valve member supported on the filling tube within` thetank and having an air passage forming a continuation of the` airpassage in the filling tube, and an automatically operated valve locatedin said airv assage above the normal level of the liquid in the tank.

4. In a bottle filling machine, the combinat-ion of a closed tank, airand liquid connections to the tank, a casing in the side of the tank, arotatably movable plug arranged t'o 80 rock in the casing, a fillingtube mounted in said plug, a sealing head on said filling tube, ashoulder on the filling tube to engage the front of the plug, an airvalve member on the filling tube within the tank, a nut screwthreaded onsaid filling tube to pull said I shoulder and force said member againstrthe plug, an air passage extending ,from the sealing head into the tank,an air valve for said passage, and a liquid valve for said filling tube.

5. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a closed tank, airand liquid connec tions to the tank, a casingin the side of the tank, arotatably movable plug arranged to rock in said casing, a filling tubemounted in said plug, a .sealing head on said filling tube, an air valvemember mounted on the filling tube within the tank and rovided with avalved air passage, said filling tube y having a bore extending from thesealing head to the plug, and a groove extending from .said bore'to thepassage in said member to form a continuousy air passage.

6. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a closed tank, aliquid connection to the tank, a casing in the side of the tank, arotatably movable plug arranged to rockl in said casing, a filling tubesupported in said plug, a valve disk within .the tank at the inner endof said filling tube, a spri'ngp pressed sleeve carrying said valvedisk, and a fixed part within the tank above the sleeve adapted to beengaged by said sleeve to move the same and open the valve `as thefilling tube is swung.

7. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a closed tank, airand liquid connections to the tank, a casing in the side of the tank, arotatably movable plug ar-V 124.`

ranged to rock in said casing, a filling tube supported in said plug, asealing head on said filling tube, an air valve member on said fillingtube within the tank and havingan air passage therein, an air passage12,5

from the sealing head to the air passage 1n said member and both formingone continu-` ous passage, an air valve on said member, a connectionbetween said valve and a fixed partwithin the tank abovethe sleeve toopenthe valve when the filling tube begins its movement to fillingposition, a valve disk within the tank at the inner end of the fillingtube, and a spring-pressed skeleton sleeve carrying said valve'disk andadapted to engage said fixed part within the tank when the filling tubeis swung to filling position to unseat said valve disk.`

v8. In a bottle filling machine, the combinationl of a closed tank, airand liquid connections to the tank, and a filling mechanism in the sideof the tank, said mechanism comprising a rotatably movable plug arrangedto rock in the casing, a Siphon filling tube supported in said plug andextending transversely therethrough, a sealing head on the filling tube,there being an air passage extending from the sealing head into thetank, a liquid valve at the inner end of the filling tube adapted to beopened as the bottle is moved to filling position, an air valve withinthe tank at the inner end of the air passage, and means connected withthe tank and said air valve for opening said air valve before .theliquid valve is opened.

9. In a bottle filling machine. the combination of a liquid tank,aliquid connection to the tank, a filling tube mounted to swingin theside of the tan-k, a sealing head on said filling tube, and a pair ofclamping arms having cam surfaces adapted to be engaged by a shoulder onthe bottle to clamp the mouth ofthe bottle against the sealing head asthe bottle is swung to filling position.

10. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a liquid tank, aliquid connection to the tank, a filling tube mounted to swing in theside of the tank, a sealing head on said filling tube, a pair ofarmspivotally mounted on the tankfalavig cam surfaces to engage ashoulder on the bottle and clamp the mouth of Tleb'ottlefagaist thesealing head as tliebottle isn swungmto filling position, and yieldingmeans for controlling the pivotal movement of said arms.

11. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a liquid tank. aliquid connection to the tank, a filling tube mounted to swing in theside of the tank, a sealing head on said filling tube, and clamping armsmounted on the tank and adapted to be engaged by a shoulder on thebottle, the faces of the clamping arms which engage said shoulder beingcurved eccentrically from the pivotal point of the filling tube as acenter to force the mouth of the bottle tightly against the sealing headasthe bottle is swung to filling position.

1Q. In a bottle filling machine. the combination of a liquid tank. aliquid connection to the tank, a filling tube mounted to swing in theside of the tank, a sealing head on said filling tube, and means forclamping the bottle against said sealing head, said ported clamping armshaving cam surfaces to be engaged by va shoulder on the bottle as thebottle is swung to filling position.

13. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a liquid tank, aliquid connection to the tank, av filling tube mounted to swing in theside of the tank, a sealing head on said filling tube, and means forclamping the bottle against said sealing head, said means comprising apair of yieldingly connected clamping arins having cam surfaces to beengaged by a shoulder on the bottle as the bottle is swung to fillingposition.

14. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a liquid tank, aliquid connection to the tank, a filling tube mounted to swing in theside of the tank, a sealing head on said filling tube, and means forclamping the bottle against said sealing head, said means comprising apair of clamping arms yleldmgly supported on the tank and yieldinglyconnected and having cam surfacesto be engaged by a shoulder on thebottle as the bot-tle is swung to filling position.

means co-mprising a 4pair of yieldingly supl5. In a bottle fillingmachine, the combination of a liquid tank, a liquid connection to thetank, a filling tube mounted to swing in the side of the tank, a sealinghead on said filling tube, means for clamping the bottle against saidsealing head, said means comprising a pair of clamping arms pivotallysupported on the tank and having cam` surfaces adapted to engage ashoulder on the bottle as the bottle is swung to filling position, andmeans for yieldingly limiting the swinging movement of said clampingarms.-

16. In a bottle filling machine, the combi- 4nation of a liquid tank, aliquid connection to the tank, a filling tube mounted to swing in theside of the tank, a sealing head on said filling tube, and means forclampin the bottle against said sealing head, said means comprising apair of laterally movable clamping arms pivotally mounted on the tankand having cam surfaces adapted to be engaged by a shoulder on thebottle asthe bottle is swung to filling position.

17. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a liquid tank, aliquid connection to the tank, a filling tube mounted to swing in theside of the tank, a sealing head on said filling tube, means forclamping the bottlc against said sealing head, said means comprising apair of clamping arms pivotally mounted on the tank independently ofeach other and having cam surfaces adapted to be engaged by a shoulderon the bottle as the bottle is swung to filling position, and a springconnecting said clamping arms.

18. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a liquid tank, aliquid connection to the tank, a filling tube mounted to swing in theside of the tank, a sealing head on said filling tube, means for.clamping the bottle against said sealing head, said means t yieldingmeans for limiting the swinging' movement of said clamping arms.

19. In a bottle filling machine, the combination of a hollow pedestal, aliquid tank revolubly mounted on the pedestal, a liquid supply pipe inthe pedestal and projecting into the tank through thebottom thereof,means on the upper end of said supply pipe for holding said pipe in thetank, a shoulder on the pipe, and a spring on the liquid pipe arrangedto operate between said shoulder and a fixed part,` of the pedestal toexert a constant downward Ipull on the pipe.

FRANK C. H. STRASBURGER.

, Vitnesses: PAUL L. SCHMECHEL,

M. A. KIDDIE.

